Volunteer Sara Olazar collects signatures for Missouri's Campaign for Economic Dignity: Cap the Rate and Raise the Wage.

While the 90-plus degree April weather feels like summer, in Missouri congregations, neighborhoods and union halls, activists around the state have November on their minds. Every day, volunteers are collecting signatures to put initiatives on the ballot that would raise the minimum wage and put a cap on out-of-control payday loan interest rates. Because all signatures must be collected by mid-May, more folks are getting involved every day.

More than 300 members of the clergy and faith leaders came together in Kansas City at the Ezekiel Revival to support this Campaign for Economic Dignity: Cap the Rate and Raise the Wage. Working people and faith leaders then went out into the community to collect signatures. 

On Saturday, the Kansas City Zoo was free to residents of Jackson and Clay counties. Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO) and Jobs with Justice (JwJ) volunteers collected hundreds of signatures in support of the two ballot measures. Sara Olazar and Kevin Chafin were just two of the campaign volunteers collecting signatures and talking with Jackson County residents about the initiatives. 

Across the state in St. Louis, actions throughout the weekend helped raise awareness on this campaign. On Saturday, Shannon Duffy, administrative officer of the United Media Guild and Missouri JwJ Labor co-chair, organized a canvass at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church with union workers and members of area congregations. Hundreds of signatures were collected door to door and at post offices and grocery stores. The volunteers included members of the Communications Workers of America CWA, Missouri JwJ, Occupy St. Louis, SEIU, UNITEHERE!, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) as well as local congregations.

Metropolitan Congregations United and Missouri Jobs with Justice marched to a payday lenders' office with workers and people of faith on Palm Sunday at St. John's United Church of Christ in North St. Louis City.

The next day, Palm Sunday, Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) and Missouri JwJ joined workers and people of faith at St. John's United Church of Christ in north St. Louis City. Carrying palm fronds, they marched from the church to a nearby payday lender. The Rev. David Gerth of MCU says: "When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he challenged the economic powerhouses of his day—he drove the money changers out of the temple. We wanted to celebrate by Raising the Wage and Capping the Rate. A member of the church testified about usury in Missouri. Her $200 payday loan ended up costing $900. Inspired by the march, more than 20 people went out to collect signatures." 

The energy to Cap the Rate and Raise the Wage isn't limited to Missouri cities. In rural communities, these efforts have been extremely well-received. Robin Acree, director of Grassroots Organizing (GRO), reports: "Joining us this weekend was a young military veteran who now works in a warehouse in Louisiana, Mo., who feels that he just works to put gas in his car. Raising the wage is critical to our rural communities. Another volunteer turned out this weekend because she loves her call center job but needs a boost in her paycheck to pay the bills."

"As the countdown to May 6 begins, when the required signatures are due, our actions this week and in days ahead will have a tremendous impact on Missouri working families," says Lara Granich, Missouri JwJ director. "It has been six years since Missourians overwhelmingly voted to raise the minimum wage, but wages haven't kept up with the costs of food, gas and everything else. Even more shameful is the growth of an entire industry of predatory lenders offering payday loans that trap the workers who can least afford it in an impossible spiral of debt. We can't wait for our elected officials to restore some balance to the system—that's why we're taking it to the streets and into churches and community centers."

To find out more or to volunteer, visit www.mojwj.org.